TAMPA, Fla. — A suspected serial burglar stole more than $650,000 in jewelry from Rays shortstop Wander Franco’s Rolls Royce while the young star was training in Jacksonville, Florida in June, according to an ESPN report.
Kahlil Eugene Mathis, 24, faces a charge of burglary of an unoccupied vehicle in connection with the theft, according to an arrest report. While the victim’s name is redacted from the arrest report, ESPN identified Franco as the victim.
According to the arrest report, several items were taken from Franco’s car, including:
• A gold and diamond medallion, valued at $70,000, which spells “FRANCO 5″ in green and blue lettering, according to ESPN.
• A gold and diamond encrusted Cuban link chain and circle medallion with a “W” in the center, valued at $300,000.
• A rose gold Cuban link chain valued at $200,000.
• A $44,000 Rolex watch.
• Two championship rings, valued at $20,000 each, including an American League ring and a ring from the Triple-A Durham Bulls, according to ESPN.
• A gold Tom and Jerry necklace worth $5,000.
• A $60 safe containing all the jewelry
Jacksonville Sheriff’s deputies said the burglary took place about 3 a.m. on June 22 in the parking garage of a DoubleTree Hotel. In security camera footage, Mathis can be seen wearing dark clothing and a mask. He approaches Franco’s Rolls Royce with a large wrench, according to the arrest report. Mathis was then seen running away from the car with Franco’s safe, deputies said.
Two pieces of jewelry were sold at a pawn shop the next day, according to the arrest report. Deputies found the safe in an apartment roughly 6 miles from the hotel. Two of the championship rings were inside the safe. The Sheriff’s Office has not been able to find Franco’s Cuban link chains or the Rolex, according to ESPN.
According to jail records, Mathis faces more than 20 charges, including five counts of burglary. He was being held in jail Friday on $906,566 bail.
Franco is sidelined because of a fracture in his right hand and is not traveling with the Rays. He declined to comment through the team, calling it a personal matter.
METS: Mets ace Jacob deGrom will make at least one more minor league rehab start before rejoining the rotation.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner, sidelined all season by a stress reaction in his right scapula, threw 60 pitches over five innings in a simulated game Thursday at the team’s complex in Florida.
Mets Manager Buck Showalter said deGrom felt good Friday, and his next step will be a throwing session Sunday as part of a work day at Citi Field in New York. After that, if all goes well, he’ll pitch for a minor league affiliate a few days later and then get slotted into the big league rotation.
• The Mets added some much-needed punch at designated hitter, acquiring Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade for rookie reliever Colin Holderman.
The burly Vogelbach, a left-handed hitter and an All-Star in 2019 with Seattle, was batting .228 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI and a .769 OPS in 75 games with the struggling Pirates.
New York, which began the day with a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL East over defending World Series champion Atlanta, has gotten little production at DH from J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith.
MARLINS: Miami All-Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. likely will be out through the end of August.
Tests revealed Chisholm has a stress reaction in his lower back, the Marlins said. He is expected to miss six weeks.
Chisholm, 24, was selected to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career. However, he was forced to miss Tuesday’s game at Los Angeles.
He has been on the injured list since June 29 because of what was called a right lower back strain.
Chisholm is hitting .254 with 14 home runs, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 60 games.
WHITE SOX: Chicago placed center fielder Luis Robert on the 10-day injured list because of blurred vision.
General Manager Rick Hahn said the team is “cautiously optimistic” the slugger and Gold Glove winner will be ready to return when the White Sox open a three-game series against Oakland on July 29.
Chicago also reinstated catcher Yasmani Grandal. He was placed on the 10-day IL on June 13 because of lower back spasms.
GUARDIANS: Cleveland expects right-hander Aaron Civale to rejoin the rotation in August after doctors confirmed he has a sprained ligament and inflammation in his pitching wrist, the team said.
Civale was examined this week by Drs. Thomas Graham and Jason Genin. The team said he is responding well to an anti-inflammatory injection and is expected to resume throwing soon. Cleveland will have a better idea of his return date as he goes through his rehab program.
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